The release of CCTV footage from the presidential office, which captures an emergency Cabinet meeting during the insurrection, has become a pivotal part of the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The footage, recorded on the night of December 3 last year in the reception room and corridor of the presidential office in Yongsan, reveals the movements and actions of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and State Council members before and after the declaration of martial law.
The 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Lee Jin-gwan) conducted the second trial of Han, who is charged with aiding the insurrection leader, on the 13th. During this session, the court reviewed evidence from the CCTV footage. The special counsel team requested a live broadcast, and the entire trial process was recorded and streamed for public viewing.
The CCTV footage, classified as a Level 3 military secret, was transferred to a mobile storage device by the Presidential Security Service following a police request after martial law was declared. It was later handed over to the prosecution and the special counsel team. The special counsel team submitted a document from the Presidential Security Service regarding the declassification of the military secret, and the court decided to disclose it, stating, “It is interpreted as agreeing to the broadcast.”
The footage secured by the special counsel team was filmed from 5:59 p.m. on December 3 last year to 10:00 a.m. on the 4th in the reception room and corridor, totaling 32 hours (16 hours each). The special counsel team edited only key parts, approximately 20 minutes, for evidence review. A portion of the footage from 8:14 p.m. to 11:05 p.m. on the 3rd, just before the martial law declaration, was publicly shown in court.
Key Scenes from the Footage
First, the footage replayed Han entering the reception room and waiting with former Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, who arrived earlier. The special counsel team explained, “This scene shows Han telling Kim around 8:40–45 p.m. that the president seemed to be planning to declare martial law. Han had no conversation until he entered the reception room, meaning he was aware of the president’s plan before arriving.”
According to the CCTV, Han heard the emergency martial law declaration plan from former President Yoon in the presidential office around 9:10 p.m. and returned to the reception room. At that time, Han was holding two types of documents. Around 9:47 p.m., State Council members, including former Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok, were seen passing and reading the documents.
The special counsel team explained, “After arriving at the presidential office, Han learned around 10:00 p.m. that the president would declare martial law without a Cabinet meeting and was aware that the president intended to mobilize the military and police to incite a riot, based on the decree document he directly received and others received from ministers.”
A scene of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun counting with his fingers to meet the quorum for the Cabinet meeting was also replayed. Around 9:14 p.m., the footage showed Kim entering the reception room, extending four fingers on his right hand, approaching Han, and speaking. The special counsel team stated, “Excluding State Council members gathered at the presidential office, four more were needed. This confirms that Han and Kim closely coordinated to fill the four-person quota.”
In subsequent footage, around 9:29 p.m., Kim exited and showed four fingers to former Presidential Office Chief of Staff Kim Jeong-hwan in the corridor. Around 9:33 p.m., he re-entered the reception room, showed four fingers to former Security Service Chief Park Jong-jun, and whispered. The special counsel team noted, “This further clarifies the attempt to fabricate the appearance of a Cabinet meeting.”
Around 9:35–38 p.m., the footage showed Han making a phone call. The special counsel team explained, “As the quorum was not met by 10:00 p.m., Han directly called Minister Song Mi-ryung, urging her to come to the presidential office quickly.”
At 10:12 p.m., after former Deputy Prime Minister Choi and Minister Song arrived, leaving a two-person quorum shortfall, Kim raised one finger. The special counsel team explained, “Former Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong entered at 10:14 p.m.,” indicating Kim had anticipated his arrival and signaled one remaining member.
Just before the martial law declaration at 10:18 p.m., former President Yoon spoke to the State Council members in the reception room, stood up, and Han slightly nodded. Yoon and Kim then exited and re-entered, after which Han picked up documents in a brown envelope and handed them over.
The special counsel team stated, “Despite the quorum being met, there was no confirmation of Han suggesting a Cabinet meeting or seeking opinions from State Council members. Instead, he was seen handing documents to Yoon and Kim, indicating tacit agreement.”
After the meeting, around 10:49 p.m., Han privately called former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, and they reviewed documents received from the president together. The special counsel team described this as a 16-minute discussion on coordinating media blackout and water supply cutoff orders.
Additionally, shortly after the declaration, Han, wearing a red tie, conversed with Lee and was filmed placing a document in his back pocket before leaving. Han had previously testified at the Constitutional Court’s impeachment trial in February, stating he was unaware of the martial law decree until he found it in his suit pocket later.
The special counsel team also confirmed via CCTV that Han received a third document titled “Special Instructions” besides the two from the presidential office. Footage showed Han taking another document from his inner jacket pocket and reading it. The team noted, “Former Minister Kim Yong-hyun testified that the president gave Han a document with instructions, which aligns with the CCTV.”
Han’s Testimony
When the court asked Han if he had anything to say after viewing the CCTV, he replied, “I will consult with my attorney and submit my opinion. Since there are parts I don’t remember from the footage, I will discuss with my attorney and respond.”
The court questioned Han, stating, “Martial law itself poses a high risk of infringing on citizens’ lives, safety, and property. The December 3 martial law involved many police and military personnel, with soldiers deployed in armed status. What measures did you, as Prime Minister, take to protect the people?”
Han responded, “I had no knowledge of the overall plan. Upon hearing the president’s initial statement, I opposed it, saying martial law would cause significant problems.” He added, “I believed gathering more State Council members would lead to unanimous opposition. I individually told the president, ‘All State Council members must reconsider,’ and ‘Martial law is unacceptable.’”
He emphasized, “The most important point is that I was unaware of the entire plan.” Han stated, “Knowing from past experiences that martial law causes immense trauma to citizens, I aimed to prevent it at all costs and believed all State Council members shared the view that the declared martial law should be lifted as soon as possible.” He also mentioned, “For the lifting Cabinet meeting, as with the initial declaration, we aimed to prepare thoroughly to avoid procedural flaws.”
When the court pressed for specific actions taken amid public clashes with armed soldiers, Han replied, “As a State Council member, I believed our stance should be expressed through a Cabinet meeting. We were in a situation where we had to do what State Council members could.”
Kim Young-ho Reverses Testimony
In the afternoon session, former Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, the first summoned to the Cabinet meeting before the martial law declaration, testified. Kim entered the presidential office with Han around 8:45 p.m. on December 3. He testified, “The president said, ‘The National Assembly’s continued impeachment makes state affairs difficult,’ and announced the martial law declaration.”
Kim recalled, “I remember Han mentioning that martial law would lower national credibility and severely impact the economy. Though he didn’t use the word ‘oppose,’ his remarks could be understood as urging reconsideration.”
Kim reversed his previous statements to investigative agencies, testifying he first heard of the martial law plan from former President Yoon, not Han. Earlier, he had claimed Han told him in the reception room before entering the presidential office. In court, he stated, “I only heard the term ‘emergency martial law’ after entering the office.”
Kim also testified that Han told former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok and former Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, “The president is declaring martial law, so you should go in and stop him.” He added he had no memory of Han receiving documents from Yoon.
When pressed by the special counsel team and the court on his changed testimony, Kim explained, “My health was poor, and the shocking news of martial law affected my memory. After resigning, I reflected and realized my earlier claim about hearing it from Han was a mistake.”
The court scheduled the third trial for the 20th, summoning former Health and Welfare Minister Cho Kyu-hong, former Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun, and former Presidential Office Chief of Staff Kim Jeong-hwan as witnesses.